Watch dial



July 1, 1969 U.BACKO WATCH DIAL Filed Dec. 22. 1966 QMOV EMENT INVENTOVR v W fa Ma Filed Dec. 22. 1966 f July 1, 1 969 .U. BACKO .s,452,54o"

WATCH DIAL Sheet J of 2 'INVENTOR M 6 BY ATTORNEY United States Patent US. Cl. 58-126 22 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A watch in which a plurality of concentrically arranged elements are positioned intermediate the watch movement and the watch dial. The watch dial is provided with an observation window and the elements each carry a plurality of indicia and are rotatable relative to one another about a common axis so that a series of indicia, consisting of at least one of the indicia provided on each of the elements, can be made visible in the observation window, the indicia to be made available in this manner being freely selectable so that they can convey specific information to a person viewing the watch, such as a passport number, blood group and blood group factor, and the like.

Background of the invention The present invention relates to a watch, and more particularly to a watch provided with an arrangement for making visible through an observation Window in the dial thereof certain identifying data or information.

Situations frequently arise in which it is necessary to speedily identify a person who is unable to answer questions as to his or her name, age, domicile and other pertinent information. This is particularly important in the case of accidents of all types, for instance to determine the blood group and the blood factor of an injured person, or to determine adverse reactions such a person might have to certain drugs which it is contemplated to administer. Again, persons suffering from diabetes sometimes go into insulin shock and require treatment which largely depends in its correctness on immediate identification of the person, and other persons subject to epileptic seizures may experience such a seizure under circumstances where the diagnosis and administration of remedial measures depends as to its exactitude on the proper identification of the person. Evidently, if such information is not available in cases such as outlined above, then it is necessary to undertake tests, for instance the examination of blood samples to determine the blood group and the rhesus factor, or to find out whether the person in question is likely to have adverse reactions to a specific drug. All such tests are time-consuming and time is not available in many of these circumstances so that the availability of immediate identification can spell the difference between life and death for such a person.

This problem has of course been recognized long ago and various proposals have been made for providing such on-the-spot information and identification. These proposals have usually centered around identification papers to be carried in a wallet or handba engraved bracelets to be worn on the wrist, and similar expedients. However, it is a common and Well known fact that these various types of information-carriers are frequently lost or, even more frequently and in fact almost invariably, are simply not being carried along under all circumstances by the persons involved. It has by now been recognized that this is simply a characteristic of human nature which would be extremely difficult to change and which must be taken into account in providing suitable information-carriers. Thus, the ideal information-carrier for this purpose will be an instrumentality which overcomes human forgetfulness and thus performs its desired function despite this forgetfulness, not by futilely attempting to eliminate it. However, no such suitable information-carrier has heretofore been known.

Summary of the invention The invention provides an information-carrier which overcomes the disadvantages outlined above, and which possesses the advantageous characteristics desirable for the intended function.

To overcome the tendency towards forgetfulness it is necessary that the information-carrier be an implement of everyday use, an implement which has found the broadest possible acceptance among all people everywhere, and which is as a matter of custom and routine used by a majority of people throughout most, if not all of the day, so that no conscious decision on the part of the person involved is necessary to assure that such implement is carried along wherever the person goes.

Such an implement is the watch, and particularly the Wrist watch.

Theoretically, the information which it is desired to convey to a third-person viewer when the wearer of the Watch is unable to provide the necessary information, could be permanently provided on the watch, for instance by engraving, stamping or the like. In practice, however, this is highly disadvantageous since the watch may change possession or, even more importantly, the information itself may require revision, for example if medical data are to be added, removed or modified.

It is therefore necessary to provide the watch with indicia which can be adjusted at will so that the information conveyed by such indicia can be changed when necessary or desired. Keeping this in mind, one important feature of my invention resides in the provision of a watch which comprises a casing and a watch movement disposed in the casing. The watch movement carries a dial provided with an observation window.

My novel watch further comprises a plurality of concentrically arranged elements which are interposed between the dial and the watch movement, and each of the elements has a side which faces the dial and which is provided with indicia, and at least a selected one of the indicia on the respective elements of this plurality of elements is in registry with the observation window so that it may be 'observed therethrough. Evidently, a series of such indicia provided on the respective elements can convey together a certain piece of information. Thus, the serial number, inoculations, blood group and the Rh factor of the wearer of the watch can be shown in this manner, and the number of the persons driver license, his passport number, address or similar information can also be made readily available to anyone viewing the watch.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is a top-plan view of a watch dial provided with an observation window through which indicia in accordance with the present invention are visible;

FIG. 2 is a bottom-plan view of the dial shown in FIG. 1, with indicia carriers shown in place;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on the line IIIIII of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top-plan fragmentary view of a plurality of indicia carriers such as those used in FIGS. 1-3, prior to their installation in conjunction with the watch dial;

FIG. 5 is a bottom-plan view similar to that shown in FIG. 2, but illustrating another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a section taken on the line VIVI of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a somewhat schematic fragmentary view of the underside of a watch dial, showing a cover means for covering the observation window provided therein;

FIG. 8.is a view similar to FIG. 7, but showing a modified cover means;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. l,but with the dial removed and illustrating a modified embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified indicia carrier for use in conjunction with a watch according to the present invention.

Description of the preferrefd embodiments Discussing now the drawing in detail, and firstly FIG. 1 thereof, it will be seen that there is shown a top-plan view of the front face of a watch dial, and it will be understood that the watch with which this is associated can be either a wrist watch or a pocket watch, or, for that matter, any other type of watch which is customarily carried on the person of a user. The usual markings for indicating the time are provided on the dial shown in FIG. 1, but are of no interest in conjunction with the present invention.

Dial 1 is provided with a central aperture 3 through which the shaft or shafts may extend which connect the hands of the watch with the watch movement. Dial 1 is further provided with a radially extending cutout which constitutes an observation window 13. Visible through this observation window 13 are certain indicia which convey identifying information relating to the wearer of the watch. In the illustrated example it may be assumed for instance, that the letter A at the left-hand end of the observation window 13 indicates the blood group of the wearer, whereas the various numbers also visible in the window may constitute the passport number of the wearer, the number of his drivers license, his telephone number or any other identification number suitable for the purpose. Evidently, some or all of the numbers could be replaced by letters to spell out the wearers address, his name, or other desirable information.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show how the indicia, which hereafter for purposes of convenience will simply be referred to as the numbers, come to be located in the observation window 13. FIG. 2 (see also FIGURE 5) shows a plurality of ring elements 7, 9 which are arranged concentrically with one another and with the aperture 3. The total number of these elements 7, 9 is in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 assumed to be 8, although evidently a greater or lesser number can be provided. In this particular embodiment the elements 7, 9, which are arranged concentrically inside one another without any spacing, have upper surfaces facing the underside of the dial 1 and lower surfaces facing oppositely thereto, all of such surfaces being located in a first and second plane, respectively. In other words, no part of the ring members 7, 9 project beyond these planes in either axial direction of the respective ring member. The ring members 7, 9 abut with their upper faces against the underside of the dial 1, as is evident in FIG. 3, and are maintained in this position by holding members 11 which extend radially of the dial and whose opposite ends 12 are secured to the underside of the dial 1, for instance by soldering, spot welding, via adhesive or in a similar manner. The configuration of the holding members 11 is clearly evident from FIG. 3 where it will be seen that the end portions 12 are bent at an angle so that the ring members 7 and 9 are arranged within a recess formed by the respective holding member 11 and its associated end portions 12 and are thus rotatable with reference to the dial 1 without any interference by the respective holding members. Since there is no spacing between the individual ring members 7 and 9, and since the latter are also maintained in abutment wtih the underside of the dial 1 by the holding members 11, no undesired rotary movement of the ring members 7 and 9 can take place which would cause the indicia which have been juxtaposed with the observation window 13 to be dislodged from these selected positions. FIG. 2 also shows that the underside of the dial 1 can be further provided with downwardly extending pins 5 which can serve for locating the dial 1 and the ring members carried thereby in predetermined position relative to the watch movement with which they are to be associated.

FIG. 4 shows how indicia are provided on the individual ring members 7 and 9. The ring member 9 is the outermost one and, in addition to having the largest diameter, is in FIG. 4 also shown as having the greatest width as seen in radial direction. Thus it can accommodate two or more indicia which in FIG. 4 are shown as being the various blood groups. The remaining ring members, namely the ring members 7, are seen to be provided in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4 with numerals from one to nine and also with zero. Of course, not the entire space available on each of the ring members 7 will be used up in this manner, it being evident that only approximately one quarter of the space is used in FIG. 4. The remaining space can then be provided with the letters of the alphabet, with the abbreviated names or initials of certain countries, or with other indicia. Of course, other information can also be shown in this manner, such as the Rh factor (shown on ring member 9), information relating to drug toleration, inoculations, and the like. It need not be specifically pointed out that, although only two of the rings 7 in FIG. 4 are shown to be provided with indicia, such indicia will of course be provided on all of the rings 7 although naturally the indicia of one ring need not be identical with those of the other rings, unless this is specifically desired.

Since the provision of the ring members 7, 9 between the watch movement and the dial 1 is not to add significantly to the height of the watch, the material from which they are made, such as sheet steel, sheet brass, sheet copper, sheet aluminum, or, if desired, even sheet plastic, is of very small thickness. On the other hand it will be evident that the ring members 7 and 9 must have sufiicient rigidity to be shape-retaining, so that they will not sag intermediate the holding members 11 of which there may be at least two provided, or more if necessary or desired. In many watches the thickness of the dial is approximately 0.5 mm. and it has been found that the thickness of the various ring members 7, 9 can advantageously be on the order of 0.2-0.4 mm. It is to be noticed in this connection that the relative thickness of the dial 1 and the ring members 7, 9 as shown in FIG. 3 is not shown to scale.

The various indicia to be provided on the ring members 7, 9 can be applied in any desired manner, for instance pho-tographically, by edging, by engraving or in some other suitable manner. The size of the indicia will necessarily have to be small, but on the other hand must be large enough so that they can be read with the naked eye, and it has been found that this size may be in the range of approximately O.30.8 mm., depending upon the size of the dial 1. There is no danger of damage to the indicia by rubbing of the indicia-bearing surfaces of the ring members 7, 9 against the underside of the dial 7 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3 during rotation of the ring members, since such rotation will be required at most a few times during the life of the watch.

Coming now to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 it will be seen that this constitutes a modification of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3. Specifically, the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 shows the outermost ring member 9 to be integrally provided with holding mem bers 15 corresponding to the holding members 11 shown in FIG. 2. Evidently, and as shown in FIG. 6, the holding members 15 must also be bent in such a fashion as to accommodate the ring members 7 between themselves and the underside of the dial 1 and this is clearly shown in FIG. 6. All of the holding members 15, which in FIG. 5 are assumed to be three in number, merge in a central portion 16 of annular configuration and the ring member 9 with the holding members 15 and the central portion 16 can be integrally formed in a single stamping and forming step. As in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, the ring members 7 shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 will be seen to be located in a common plane with the ring-shaped portion of the ring member 9 and to engage the underside of the dial 1. Advantageously, a sleeve 17 extends through the center opening of the annular member 16 and, since the same registers with the aperture 3 of the dial 1, through the same and through this sleeve 17 the shaft or shafts for the hour and minute hand can extend. FIG. 6 shows that the sleeve 17 can be secured to the dial 1 and the ring members 7 and 9 by having its axial ends radially upset so as to overlie corresponding portions of the dial 1 and of the annular portion 16. FIG. 6 shows that a spacer ring 21 may be interposed between the portion 16 and the underside of the dial 1.

However, the ring members 7 and 9 can also be secured to the underside of the dial 1 without the sleeve 17, namely by the provision of angle members 19 which are suitably secured to the underside of dial 1 and which overlie the underside of the ring member 9, holding the same to the dial 1 while the ring members 7 are in turn held 'by the holding members 15 of ring member 9. Of course, and as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the angular members 19 can also be combined with the sleeve 17 and used together therewith. As in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, the ring members 7, 9 of the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 are individually rotatable, for instance from below or from above through the observation window 13, through the use of suitable implements, until the desired indicia of the respective ring members appear in the observation window.

It will be evident, from what has been said before, that in many cases the information which is visible in the observation window 13 provides highly personal data concerning the wearer of the watch. It may therefore not be desirable to have such data exposed for scrutiny at all times, that is under non-emergency circumstances. For this reason the invention contemplates providing the novel watch disclosed herein with a cover member for selectively covering and uncovering the observation window 13. One possible embodiment of such a cover member is shown in FIG. 7 where, it will be seen, a substantially rectangular member 23 is placed into juxtaposition with the underside of the dial 1, the number 23 being of such configuration that it will cover the observation Window 13. Of course, the configuration of the member 23 can be different and is shown rectangular only by way of example. Member 23 can be turned, in the embodiment of FIG. 7, about a pivot pin 25 and comprises a portion which extends outwardly beyond the peripheral edge of the dial 1 and this portion may extend into a slot provided in the wall of the watch casing so that the cover member 23 can be manipulated from outside the Watch casing by engagement of the outwardly extending portion of the cover member 23 with the fingers of an operator. Evidently, by turning the cover member 23 about the pivot pin 25 to one or the other side, the observation window 13 can be selectively covered and uncovered whenever it is desired to either conceal or make visible the indicia on the ring members 7, 9 (not shown in FIG. 7). Of course, if the watch casing is in fact provided with a slot into and through which the outer end portion of the cover member 23 extends, then it is preferable to provide this slot in a customary manner with sealing means to prevent the intrusion of dust and other contaminants into the interior of the watch. The upper surface of the cover member 23,

that is that portion of this surface which is visible through the observation window 13 when the cover member 23 is in covering position, can be provided with information indicating the nature of the data which will be seen when the cover member 23 is moved to one side of the observation window 13. For instance, if a number will be visible through the observation window 13, and if such number constitutes the passport number of the wearer, the letter P can be provided on the cover member 23, or even the word pass. Again, it may be desirable that even this information is not ordinarily visible and in such case the width of the cover member 23 can be considerably greater than the width of the observation Window 13, for example twice as wide as the latter, so that this secondary information can be provided on a portion of the cover member surface which becomes visible only when the cover member 23 has been partially turned about the pivot pin 25 and before it is completely withdrawn from the observation window 13, but not while it is in normal covering position.

The inventive embodiment of FIG. 8 deals with the same problem as that of FIG. 7, namely with a cover member for the observation window 13. Here, the arrangement is somewhat different from that of FIG. 7 in that the cover member 26, which is again turnable about a pivot pin 25, is provided with an end portion which extends radially beyond the peripheral edge of the dial 1 but which, instead of being located in a cutout or slot in the casing of the watch, is juxtaposed only with the inner wall of the casing. Provided in or on this inner wall there may be an actuating member, such as a spring-load pusher or similar element which can be actuated directly or indirectly from the exterior of the casing to apply a force selectively in the direction of the arrows 27 or 28 against the outwardly projecting end portion of the cover member 26, it being evident that a force applied in the direction of the arrow 28 will turn the cover member 26 about the pivot pin 25 in a sense withdrawing the cover member 26 from the observation window 13, wherea a force in direction of the arrow 27 will restore the cover member 26 to a position in which it covers the observation window 13.

Although this has not been specifically illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 it will be evident that, whenever a cover member such as the one indicated with reference numeral 23 in FIG. 7, or the one indicated with reference numeral 2-6 in FIG. 8, is provided, a free space must be left between the underside of the dial 1 and the upper surfaces of the ring members 7, 9 so that the respective cover members can freely move. One possibility of pro viding such a space is to remove material from the underside of the dial 1 to such a deph and over such an area that the respective cover member can move freely in the thus created space. In this case the ring members 7, 9 Will abut the underside of the dial 1 at all points except in the area of this space.

However, various considerations may preclude this course of action and the necessary space must then be created in another manner. One possibility for doing so is illustrated in FIG. 9 which is a top-plan view similar to that of FIG. 1, but with the dial I assumed to be re moved and illustrated for reference purposes only by way of phantom lines. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 the outer ring member 9 is provided with two radially extending holding members 15 and with an annular center portion 16, this corresponding to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5. Overlying the upper surfaces of the ring members 7, 9, that is those surfaces which face the underside of the dial 1, is a substantially semi-circular member 29 which is connected with the annular central portion 16, and thereby with the outer ring member 9, via center sleeve 17 corresponding to the one shown in FIG. 6. The sleeve 17 is secured to the dial and to the annular portion 16 in the manner as illustrated in FIG. 6. The semi-circular spacer member 29 is thus interposed between the ring members 7, 9 on the one hand and the underside of the dial 1 on the other hand and the thickness of the member 29 is so selected as to be at least equal to the thickness of the cover member 23 which is pivotable about the pivot point 25. Thus, the cover member 23 is freely turnable about the pivot point 25 in the area which is not covered by the spacer member 29 while the ring members 7, 9 are prevented from moving out of their respective assigned positions by contact with the holding members on the one hand and the underside of the spacer member 29 on the other hand.

It is to be noted that, although in the various illustrated embodiments the ring members 7, 9 are all arranged concentrically with the dial 1, the axis of rotation of these various ring members can also be located to one side of the center of the dial 1, which is coincident with the opening 3 provided in the dial. Evidently, in such a case it is necessary to leave adequate space for passage of the drive shaft for the watch hands between the axis of rotation of the ring members 7, 9 and the innermost edge of that ring member 7 having the smallest diameter. It is furthermore possible, although not specifically illustrated, to fasten the ring members 7, 9 directly to the watch movement, instead of to the dial as has been illustrated in the various embodiments. This does not, of course, affect the relative locations of any of the various illustrated and disclosed elements or members.

As has been pointed out before, the ring members 7, 9 are individually rotatable so that any selected indicia of the respective ring members can be brought into registration with the observation window 13. One manner of affecting such rotation is to insert a suitable implement through cutouts provided in the watch movement from the back thereof, so as to engage the underside of the respective ring members and to thus turn the same. Again, the watch movement together with the ring elements and the dial can be compleely removed from the watch casing and rotation of the respective ring members can be effected by engaging the same with a suitable implement through the observation window 13. Another possibility is to remove the dial 1 completely, thus pro viding ready access to the ring members 7, 9.

Although none of these procedures are particularly involved, they nevertheless do usually require the services of a person skilled in such work, namely a jeweller or watch maker. This necessity can be obviated, and provision be made for making possible the rotation of the ring members 7, 9 by removing only the bottom of the watch casing or, alternately, by making possible such necessary adjustments from the exterior of the casing with the latter completely closed, To this end suitable means for achieving this purpose can be provided, and these can include flat movable lever members (compare member L in FIG. 6) provided with pins or other projections so that engagement of the respective rings by the projections, accompanied by pressure on the lever and movement of the same, the ring members can be individually rotated. Conversely, the underside of the individual ring members can be provided with one or more pins or other projections and a flat actuating member, such as a small lever, can be introduced between the underside of the ring members and the watch movement to engage these pins or projections and to thereby affect rotation of the ring members. Of course, the lever can be permanently secured within the watch, with an end portion exending outwardly beyond the casing thereof, and the necessary engagement with the individual ring members can be affected by withdrawing or reinserting the lever to a given extent until its engaging portion is in contact with the respective ring member.

As shown in FIG. 10 the ring members need not be flat, but can also consist of wire or similar elements having a circular or substantially circular cross-section. In this case it might not be practical to provide the indicia on such modified ring members by imprinting, engraving or some such expedient. Under these circumstances it is therefore preferred, if ring members of circular crosssection are used, to afiix separate indicia which may be cut or stamped from sheet material, on the respective ring member. This possibility is shown in FIG. 10 and it will be evident that, if ring members of circular crosssection are arranged in alternating relationship with fiat ring members, the separate three-dimensional indicia carried by the ring members of circular cross-section will extend slightly upwardly of the upper surface of the flat ring members.

It is also to be noted that, in the embodiment of FIG. 10 as well as in any of the other embodiments shown herein, the downwardly projecting pins or other projections, which are to be engaged by a separate lever or engaging member to facilitate the rotation of the ring members, can be replaced with other configurations. Thus, the underside of any or all of the ring members can be provided with upwardly extending angularly spaced indentations or with a circumferentially complete undulation so that an engagement pin provided on a suitable lever or engaging member can be selectively inserted into such indentations or undulations to thereby rotate the ring members.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of arrangements differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a watch, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made Without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

1. A watch, comprising a casing; a watch movement disposed in said casing and carrying a dial provided with an observation window; and a plurality of concentrically arranged elements interposed between said dial and said watch movement, each of said elements having a side facing said dial and provided with indicia, and at least a selected one of the indicia on the respective elements being in registry with said window for observation therethrough said elements being mounted for turning movement about an axis common to them and independently of one another and of other components of the watch.

2. A watch as defined in claim 1, wherein said elements are disc-shaped.

3. A watch as defined in claim 1, wherein said elements are ring members.

4. A watch as defined in claim 1, wherein said elements are rotatably secured to said dial.

5. A watch as defined in claim 1; and further comprising indicator hands provided on said dial on a side thereof facing away from said elements, and rotatable shaft means extending through said dial and connecting said indicator hands with said watch movement, said elements being rotatable about an axis of rotation defined by said shaft means.

6. A watch as defined in claim 1 wherein said elements are ring members concentrically arranged one within the other and in a common plane.

7. A watch as defined in claim 6, wherein said dial has a surface facing said ring members, and wherein said ring members abut against said surface.

8. A watch as defined in claim 6; and further comprising holding means maintaining said ring members in said common plane.

9. A watch as defined in claim 8, wherein said holding means comprises a plurality of holding members having portions extending intermediate said ring members and said watch movement parallel to the former and to an inner surface of said dial which is juxtaposed with said ring members.

10. A Watch as defined in claim 9, wherein said holding members are provided on the radially outermost one of said ring members and extend radially inwardly therefrom.

11. A watch as defined in claim 9, wherein said holding members are provided on said dial and extend radially outwardly.

12. A watch as defined in claim 10, wherein said holding members are integral with said outermost ring member and wherein said portions are located in a plane parallel to said common plane and spaced therefrom in direction toward said watch movement by a distance corresponding to the thickness of said ring members.

13. A watch as defined in claim 10; and further comprising holding means provided on said dial adjacent the periphery thereof and securing said outermost ring member to said dial with freedom of rotation relative thereto.

14. A watch as defined in claim 1; and further comprising cover means for selectively covering said observation window so as to prevent unauthorized viewing of said indicia.

15. A Watch as defined in claim 14, wherein said elements are rotatable at least relative to said dial, and wherein said cover means comprises a cover member interposed between said dial and said elements and arranged for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said elements.

16. A watch as defined in claim and further comprising spacer means spacing said elements from said dial by a distance corresponding at least to the thickness of said. cover member to facilitate unobstructed movement of the same.

17. A watch as defined in claim 15; and further providing actuating means operatively connected with said cover member and arranged for manual engagement exteriorly of said casing, so that said cover member can be moved from the exterior of said casing.

18. A watch as defined in claim 1; and further comprising means for rotating said elements relative to one another and to said dial.

19; A watch as defined in claim 6, wherein alternate ones of said ring members are of different radial widths.

20. A watch as defined in claim 6, wherein said ring members comprise a first plurality of rings having a predetermined radial width, and a second plurality of rings having a substantially smaller radial width, the rings of said second plurality alternating with the rings of said first plurality and being concentric therewith.

21. A watch as defined in claim 20; further comprising selectively operable means for rotating said rings relative to one another and to said dial so that selected ones of the indicia of each ring can be brought into registry with said observation window, said means comprising an actuating member and cooperating interengaging portions provided on said actuating member and on at least some of said rings.

22. A watch as defined in claim 20, wherein the indicia on the rings of one plurality are located in a plane parallel to the indicia on the rings of the other plurality.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 402,916 5/1889 Gaillald 58-58 X 1,513,526 10/1924 Allenbaugh 58-126 1,760,760 5/1930 Long 58-126 1,793,800 2/1931 Henry 40-70 2,842,877 7/1958 Stevens 40-70 2,912,776 11/1959 Koerber 40-70 2,976,672 3/1961 Ducommun 58-58 FOREIGN PATENTS 288,312 5/1953 Switzerland.

RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

S. A. WAL, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 40-70; 116-133; 235-88 

